Shopping and a new goal

So as some people may already know, I'm from the north east (England) and around here there isn't really anywhere to buy sewing patterns, notions and fabric... or so I thought! My mam remembered a shop in an industrial estate that sells all things crafty and she took me there today. I was in heaven and can guarantee I'll be back there again soon, I must have been there for nearly 2 hours running around like a kid in a sweet shop! I bought some fat quarters of fabric to experiment with and a couple of patterns that to get me started so I think I'm all good for now. This is my fave pattern:



New Look 6004


I've decided to do this pattern first instead of simplicity 7141 as its simply and I'm worried that simplicity 7141 is too complicated for my (very) basic sewing skills. I've also set myself a goal... Its my neighbors 40th birthday near the end of February and I'm determined to sew myself either a skirt or a dress to wear at her party. Tall orders but I'm gonna try! =) I'm going to get started tomorrow hopefully so more to come soon.

My first refashion and a new project

Ok refashion may be overdoing it slightly as all I've really done is chop off the sleeves but it's a big improvement.


Shapeless and sack-like

Even though this shirt is 2 sizes smaller than I would normally wear, it still felt too baggy and the sleeves had annoying fiddly cuffs that wouldn't stay fastened. I decided to cut the sleeves shorter to get rid of the cuffs but weirdly it's also given the shirt a better shape:

Much better!

I've also chosen my first "from a pattern" clothing project, Simplicity 7141. Its a high waisted skirt with big pockets and a hidden zip. I've got my material and supplies ready so I can get started today! I'm praying that everything goes to plan and I dont have any disasters or at least no serious ones. Fingers crossed!

I'm making the skirt on the far left, it hasnt got braces and is slightly shorter

Cushion cover

On my Saturday shopping trip I bought a broken cushion cover for 99p as mentioned in my previous post, heres the before pic:

The seams of two of the sides were ripped so I cut them off, made new seams and sewed it up to fit my smaller cushion. I admit I did have a slight problem with the first seam, I finished sewing it, held it up and realised I'd sewn it on the outside *face palm*. Cue a lot of unpicking and muttering under my breath (and laughter from my brother). I finally fixed the seams, sewed up the sides and attached press studs/poppers and I'm really pleased with the result! Ok I had to use my seam ripper more than I would have liked but now I've done it once I hopefully won't make the same stupid mistake again.



I must work on my "camera face"

Today I went searching through all the charity shops in town and I found "The Laura Ashley book of home decorating" from 1982 for £1.99! It shows you how to sew cushions, curtains and duvet covers and has gorgeous pictures and a fabric bound hard cover. Safe to say I'm very happy with that purchase.

For my next project I really want to make something I can wear but I can't decide what. I need something fairly easy to start with, my biggest fear about sewing apart from impaling myself on my sewing machine, is my creation discintegrating in a public place. I was thinking about pajama bottoms but if anyone has any other ideas please comment.

I'll get there in the end

I had really wanted to start sewing yesterday or today but it seems fate isn't on my side. The mini sewing machine I originally wanted to buy was out of stock the last few days (according to my argos iPad app) but this morning it said they had them in. So after the morning school run (I escort disabled children to and from school for a living) I got dropped off in town and went to buy it. The app was lying, they were still out of stock *sigh* but I got a different mini machine that was really similar. So I get it home and tried it out. Nearly two hours later after several jams, it cutting out once, the thread coming undone and many failed attempts at rethreading the machine using the cryptic and completely useless instructions, I gave up and threw it back in the box. It's going back tomorrow and my grandad has really kindly gave me the extra money I need to buy a proper sewing machine.

I got a surprise this afternoon when my mam presented me with her old sewing box. When I was younger my mam used to sew now and again, mostly repairing mine and my brother's clothes but she sold her old (and huge) sewing machine. She is being really supportive with my resolution to take up sewing, so now I'm the new owner of the old sewing box. It really is a treasure trove, there's loads of thread in assorted colours, buttons, hooks and eyes, interfacing, ribbons, lace, press studs and velcro. I can't wait to put it to good use, fingers crossed I can get my sewing machine tomorrow and nothing else goes wrong. I'm really eager to get started :)